Rules of No Limit Texas Hold'em

The game concept itself is pretty simple. Each player is dealt two cards face down (called pocket cards). The dealer then deals five community cards face up; these are available to all the players to help make their hand. Players may use any combination of their pocket cards and the community cards to make their hand. The best 5-card hand takes the pot.

No Limit Holdem is by far the most popular version of poker online. The name says it all: There are no maximum bet limits. You can bet as much as you like during any round of betting. The minimum bet is the big-blind amount. No-Limit Hold'em makes for big pots, fast action and great watching.

The Blinds: The blinds are mandatory bets posted by two players at the start of each hand, prior to the cards being dealt. The amount of the big blind on each hand is determined by the tournament you are in. The player directly to the left of the dealer posts the small blind (which is half the big blind). The player to the left of the small-blind player posts the big blind.

In poker, blinds are used as an incentive for players to play a hand and build the pot. Consider blinds to be mandatory bets and raises; any player that wants to play the hand must match the big blind to stay in. The blinds are considered live bets, so when the action goes around the table and returns to the players who posted the blinds, they have the option of checking, calling, raising or folding.

During a tournament, the big blind starts low, but gradually increases as the tournament goes on. This ensures that the tournament ends as players are gradually forced to play hands to avoid losing all of their chips.

The Dealer Button: The Button is a graphic symbol that represents the theoretical dealer. After each hand, the button moves clockwise to the next active player, who becomes the dealer for that hand. This player is considered to be "on the button", and is the last person to act in the betting round. The first player to the left of the button is the first player to be dealt cards, the first player to act in each betting round and the player that posts the small blind.

The Gameplay:

Pre Flop: The Pocket Cards: (aka the Hole Cards). The dealer deals each player two cards face down. Only the player can see his/her pocket cards. After the cards are dealt, action lies on the player after the big blind. This player must decide whether to call, raise or fold the big blind. Each player in turn is given these options, until all bets are called.

The Flop: Now the dealer turns over the first three community cards, called "the flop". All betting rounds start with the player directly to the dealer's left.

The Turn: (AKA Fourth Street). The fourth community card is dealt and a new betting round begins. The bet amount for Fixed Limit games increases to the upper stake. Betting continues until all bets are called.

The River: (AKA Fifth Street). Here the final community card is shown and the last round of betting takes place.

The Showdown: All the bets have been called, it's time to show the cards. The last player to bet or raise during the final round of betting will show his/her hand first. If all players checked through (nobody bet), the player to the left of the dealer will show first. The remaining players' hands will be automatically revealed moving clockwise, unless a hand is weaker than the winning hand shown. In this case, you'll have the option to show, or muck (fold without showing) your cards. The best five-card hand takes the pot. For a complete list of hand rankings, please consult the Hand Rankings page.

Buying the pot: If during a betting round you make a bet and all players fold to you, you�ve bought the pot. You have the option to show or muck your cards.

The best way to learn to play poker is of course to actually play it and there are a lot of sites that allow you to practice your poker skills for free.